In other words, the activists who guide policy for the DFL -- the party that currently controls the House,
the Senate, and the governor's office -- were 16 votes shy of making
recreational cannabis a legislative priority for the next two years. That comes out to a mere 1.5 percent.

Of course, it'll take more than a piece of paper to convince most legislators, especially those
beholden to the state's powerful law enforcement lobbyists. Using
cannabis for pleasure (or religious ceremony) is still a taboo position
to hold in politics, and some top-ranking DFLers last session
made the case for medical by blasting recreational.

To be fair, these statements came in response to opponents like Sen.
Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria), who has repeatedly conflated the two issues. Although the Ron Paul-type Republicans helped push a medical bill to the governor's desk, the MN GOP 2014 party platform is clear: "we are
opposed to legalizing recreational marijuana."

The only DFL lawmaker so far to come out in support of
legalizing cannabis -- Rep. Rena Moran (St. Paul) -- has no plans to
author a bill next year. Still, she surprised more than a few observers
when she took the stage at a rally in April, saying, "Let's create a
system where we can tax and regulate the sale, so we can invest more
wisely in all of us."

Others will have a chance to rise soon enough. Randy Quast, the
executive director of MN NORML, says he intends to survey candidates to
make sure his members vote smart. Moran coming forward is great, he
adds, but "she can't be the only one standing out there."

Outside Minnesota, it's becoming clear that the sky hasn't fallen in
states where cannabis is legal. Last month, Colorado Gov. John
Hickenlooper, who opposed the ballot referendum legalizing the plant,
sounded optimistic when he told Reuters:

It seems like the people that were smoking before are mainly
the people that are smoking now. If that's the case, what that means is
that we're not going to have more drugged driving, or driving while
high... But we are going to have a system where we're actually
regulating and taxing something, and keeping that money in the state of
Colorado...and we're not supporting a corrupt system of gangsters.

Another bright spot to come out of the DFL convention: Delegates
approved a resolution calling for legalized agricultural hemp. It was once a
cash crop for southern Minnesota farmers and, during World
War II, became a crucial component of cordage, parachutes, and other
military necessities.

Don't believe us? Check out "Hemp for Victory," which was produced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It's on YouTube.